Minnesota, 1996

Blizzard in Minnesota, December 16 to 18, 1996

December 16 to 18, 1996 · NWS FSD · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

Prolonged blizzard conditions occurred as winds of 30 to 50 mph combined with heavy loose snow and light falling snow to produce whiteout conditions. Wind chills as cold as 60 below zero also occurred.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS FSD wrote it up.

Prolonged blizzard conditions occurred as winds of 30 to 50 mph combined with heavy loose snow and light falling snow to produce whiteout conditions. Wind chills as cold as 60 below zero also occurred. Schools and businesses as well as travel were brought to a halt. Damage was mostly limited to the longer term economic impact and possible livestock losses, and the total impact damage could not be determined.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Lincoln

When
December 16, 10:00 AM CST to December 18, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Lincoln forecast zone
Coordinates
44.413, -96.267 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Lyon

When
December 16, 10:00 AM CST to December 18, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Lyon forecast zone
Coordinates
44.414, -95.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Murray

When
December 16, 10:00 AM CST to December 18, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Murray forecast zone
Coordinates
44.022, -95.763 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Cottonwood

When
December 16, 10:00 AM CST to December 18, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Cottonwood forecast zone
Coordinates
44.007, -95.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Nobles

When
December 16, 10:00 AM CST to December 18, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Nobles forecast zone
Coordinates
43.674, -95.753 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Jackson

When
December 16, 10:00 AM CST to December 18, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Coordinates
43.674, -95.154 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Pipestone

When
December 16, 10:00 AM CST to December 18, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Pipestone forecast zone
Coordinates
44.023, -96.259 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Rock

When
December 16, 10:00 AM CST to December 18, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Rock forecast zone
Coordinates
43.675, -96.253 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Blizzard
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Minnesota in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, December 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5576119, 5576120, 5576121, 5576122, 5576123, 5576124, 5576125, 5576126.